jjsmiles
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Everything posted by jjsmiles
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One of the things that really struck me is that if we are giving ourselves way more than a portion size when we are using measuring cups, how much are we giving ourselves when we just "guestimate" the portion. I kind of shudder when I think about it. When I was watching the clip - when she measured a tbsp of Peanut Butter - I realized that is exactly the way I would measure it :thumbup:
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Hi Charles, I echo OhJuli - I was banded in September of 07. I can and do eat everything on your list, including steak, potatoes, Pasta, high fiber veggies (asparagus is one of my favorites). I have very occasionally had trouble with some foods, but I think it is mainly due to too big of a bite or not chewing enough. If I have trouble one day, the next I don't. I don't really drink alcohol, but I have had a couple of soda's in the last year - they tend to give me the burps and make me feel quite full in the chest if I drink too fast, but that is the extent of my problems with it. I am not doing low carb, but I am careful to eat high density, complex, low glycemic index carbs for the most part (whole wheat, unrefined, veggies, fruit, etc). If you do decide on the band, one of the things you find is there are as many opinions about what to eat, when, what not to eat, when, how much, pre-op, etc as there are people out there. One or 3 articles are not gospel (haven't we yet learned from the eggs kill you, eggs are the perfect Protein debate?). You need to make decisions on lots of information, and then form your own opinions. It can be really frustrating to get such conflicting information, but just remember that the lap band is ultimately meant to be a tool to help you to learn to eat in a healthy manner that can last for a lifetime. I would have never "bought" into anything that told me I "couldn't" eat every day food ever again. If nothing else, look at my ticker and you can see that I am a successful loser and I eat everything in moderation. Good luck in your decisions and in your journey.
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Kareyquilts, Mimin, Ghost & BJean The Final Push
jjsmiles replied to kareyquilts's topic in LAP-BAND Surgery Forums
OMG Karey - I can't believe they can charge that much :biggrin:. Is there any way to appeal any of the costs or the insurance (or lack of), since it was an emergeny and not at all elective? I mean you chose the lap band, but you didn't chose the complications or the slip - couldn't your insurance maybe cover at least the emergency part? I am a Canadian, so my health care is supposedly "universal" (although health care almost never covers lap band surgery - I am one of maybe 75 in my community in the last 3 years who has had this surgery covered), they would have to cover any complications or emergency stuff. I would be vibrating about this - I am so sorry. On the flip side, your health is more important than money - if you can't do anything about it, at least be thankful that you are safe and healing. Your family would much rather you be with them, than $40 thousand richer. BJ - yes I have little notebooks (200 sheets, coil bound, 5 1/2" x 3 1/2") that I buy at the $ store. Ironically, my new one has the name "fat lil notebook" on the back cover. Since my BMI now says I am "only" overweight now (no longer obese or morbidly obese or where I started at super obese), I am thinking I should write my objections to the company :biggrin: Jacquie -
Kareyquilts, Mimin, Ghost & BJean The Final Push
jjsmiles replied to kareyquilts's topic in LAP-BAND Surgery Forums
Hey BJ - sounds like you are doing great - although 100 g of protein a day seems like an awful lot!!!! I think I would have to resort to a protein shake to get that much in (and I avoid them like the plague as I would rather eat my calories). It's great that you can start doing some physical activity again - I bet that will feel good. You have done great with your weight loss - how is the hunger without a fill, now that you are well on the mend? You might not know this about me, but I have an obsessive compulsive personality - I started documenting in a little note book (a page a day, including exercise and anything significant - i.e specialist appt, weigh in at clinc, tom) as well as my daily weight. Yes I am one of those that is addicted to my scale :biggrin:. I heard about the daily plate.com and started using it (easy to use, has almost everything I eat in its data base, and it is really easy to add food). I still also document in the note book too (like I said obsessive personality). I am on my second notebook and it just feels really tangible to me to have paper and pen (I think it shows my age as well) :biggrin: Keep up the good work ladies!!!!! -
Kareyquilts, Mimin, Ghost & BJean The Final Push
jjsmiles replied to kareyquilts's topic in LAP-BAND Surgery Forums
Hey guys - You are all doing great!! Given all the trauma's and drama's you have all been through recently, think about what could've happened if you hadn't been on this journey for so long and so successfully!!! Karey - great that you are able to start with the activity again - 3 miles in an hour is nothing to sneeze at (or wheeze at ). I know that I haven't been at this nearly as long as you all, but I know one of the most major keys of success for me has been journalling everything I eat. More and more research is showing that people that document their eating, lose more weight and keep it off. Today I had a disasterous eating day (carrot cake and black forest cake both called my name at a celebration event I was at and I answered the call by eating both :redface:) - but you know what - I am ok with it, I punished myself with tons of exercise and I know I will be right back to eating healthy tonight and tomorrow. I have never been able to say that, EVER, in my life before. It is a great feeling. It hurt alot, but I even documented the cake on the daily plate. Chin up and take care of yourselves :thumbdown: Jacquie -
What does it feel like to be "stuck"?
jjsmiles replied to amonroy's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
I have been lucky in that I can eat almost anything, but I occasionally get "stucK' (it has happened on banana, chicken, beef and eggs, but only once or twice on each). I think it is mainly because I took too big a bite and or didn't chew enough. For me, it feels like a golf ball stuck in the back of my throat - pretty painful. I am always able to basically "hoark" it up like a cat with a hair ball :tt2: almost immediately. It is not a true vomit as it requires almost no effort and there are no stomach acids involved. As everyone else says - eat small bites and chew. Also, don't give up on a food because you get stuck once - what you can tolerate can and will change at different times. -
Kareyquilts, Mimin, Ghost & BJean The Final Push
jjsmiles replied to kareyquilts's topic in LAP-BAND Surgery Forums
I have to admit that I drink coffee right before and/or right after my morning oatmeal. I try to wait at least an hour after lunch and dinner before drinking, but it doesn't seem to make any difference to my level of fullness, so I don't really worry about it. The only time I have trouble with liquids is when I am "stuck", if I try to drink then, it just sits on top of whatever is stuck and I end of "hoarking" up both the Water and the offending food at the same time :tt2:. -
Official before and after pics
jjsmiles replied to ousooner's topic in Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery
Neal You look fabulous. Thank you for sharing your journey with us. You must be so proud of the "new" you. -
Hi Cutiew
Thanks for the nice comments on my photo's. I see you already look great in your pictures. I am sure that you will love the new you after banding. Good luck in your journey!!!
Jacquie
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Terilynn - thanks for the lovely comment on my pictures. Have you been banded yet? If not, best of luck to you - I have not regretted my decision for one single moment.
Jacquie
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You look wonderful - talk about transformation!!! Thanks for the lovely comment on my picture!! Jacquie -
From the album: Comparison Pictures
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Thanks for your kind words and compliments everyone!!! When I posted the album, I didn't expect it to show up on the LBT home page - so I was a bit embarassed!!
Jacquie
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Hi Sleepygirl -thanks for the compliments, they were much appreciated! I started this journey, in earnest last June 12, 2007 (I call it my committment date), although I didn't have the surgery until September 25, 2007 - so I am about a year ahead of you.
I weighed 322 on June 12, joined weight watchers and between ww and the pre-op diet, I weighed 279 at surgery. I had a few complications (not due to the lapband, but another pre-existing condition) that made the beginning part of my journey very challenging, but after I got into the groove - I haven't looked back!!!!
I promised myself that I would approach this journey as an eating plan that I could follow for the rest of my life, so I am not going low carb. I am counting calories and trying to stay with low fat/ low sugar alternatives, if they taste acceptable to me.
Most days I try to stick to around 1000-1200 calories a day and I log everything I eat, including quantitites on the dailyplate.com. I found the journalling to be a huge success factor in this journey, as I can't eat unconsciously and I have to make choices -makes me accountable to myself.
When I go out, I try to think of what I am going to order before I go, so I make a semi sane choice (not the bacon double cheeseburger with fries like I would choose before).
All that being said, if I really want something, I eat it. I still eat chocolate and pizza and cookies, just not all the time and in much smaller quantities. I would say I eat really healthy about 90-95% of the time. I don't sweat it if I eat some things that may not have been the best choice. I needed to do this journey the way I am going to do the rest of my life, and my life will include pizza and chocoloate!!!
I am not overly restricted - I can eat 2-3 oz of protein and at least a cup of cooked vegetables at any time - I seem to function best this way. I can and do eat anything, including bread (the weight watchers bread works very well for me). I occasionally have some problems with food (ie chicken or beef or eggs), but only rarely and when I try it again, I am fine -what can I say - the band is fickle).
What the band does for me is keep my portions reasonable, and it curbs my stomach hunger, so I am not physically hungry between meals (I still have evening head hunger though). Because I have always been an evening eater, I plan for at least 1-2 snacks (about 100 calories each) to help me manage. Again - works well for me!!!!
I also exercise - ALOT. I try to go to the gym 3-5 times per week and I combine cardio and strength training. For each session, I have built up to where I am exercising for between 1-2 hours.
Anyways good luck to you in your journey. If I can do it, anyone can!!!
Jacquie
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Late 2005 (around 350 pounds - not my heaviest - but I weighed around 350 for most of 2000-2007)
jjsmiles posted a gallery image in Member Photo Gallery
From the album: Comparison Pictures
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From the album: Comparison Pictures
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August 2007 (1 month before surgery - about 300 pounds)
jjsmiles posted a gallery image in Member Photo Gallery
From the album: Comparison Pictures
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From the album: Comparison Pictures
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From the album: Comparison Pictures
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From the album: Comparison Pictures
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From the album: Comparison Pictures
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From the album: Comparison Pictures
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Your food plan of choice.
jjsmiles replied to tekymom's topic in General Weight Loss Surgery Discussions
Some people use Protein shakes because they are (IMHO) too tight and can't eat real food. Some people also write about being very restricted in the am, and not able to eat real food until later in the day. The danger with the Protein Shakes, is they defeat the purpose of the band, which is to keep food in your stomach pouch for longer periods of time, keeping you feeling full for longer, hence eating less. Many shakes are very high in fat and calories as well. I try to not drink any of my calories, except for milk (which I don't like). I do count calories and document everything I eat (I really like thedailyplate.com). I try to stick to around 1000-1200 calories per day. I eat all foods, in moderation. I do try to stick to natural foods and whole wheat, but I do use splenda and low calorie/low fat alternatives, if they taste good to me (for example 2% or light cheese). If I go out, I try to think of what I am going to order before I go (just to try to be reasonably sane about my choices), but I don't really sweat it and eat what I want. I still eat chocolate, pizza and Cookies, just not that often. I also eat 2 cookies instead of the package :thumbup:. I eat at least 2-3 oz of protein at lunch and dinner and also lots of veggies (which means I eat at least a cup of food at each meal - probably more like 1 1/2 cups for dinner). I try to have at least one large piece of fruit each day (equivalent of 2 servings). I don't like milk, so I have trouble getting enough Calcium, but I take a nummy calcium chew every day (as well as a multi-vitamin). Rather than calling it a "diet", my plan was/is to eat the way I am planning to eat for the rest of my life. At the same time, I had to drastically change the way I ate (both quantity and quality) in order to be successful as the way I ate before got me to super morbidly obese, so I guess technically I am "dieting". I know realistically I will not likely be able to ever eat more than about 1500 calories per day and not gain, so I feel that the way I am eating now is very sustainable, as I can just add a bit and take it away when I need to readjust. -
Pin up Shoto Shoot??
jjsmiles replied to Boo Boo Kitty's topic in General Weight Loss Surgery Discussions
BBK - I aspire to be you!!!! You look so terrific. I don't think I will ever be in a size 4/6 - even if I got to be 110 pounds! Jacquie